LOVE: Many will be celebrating Valentine’s Day, a day for romance, with their loved one in spirit rather than in person.

One is local poet, Frances Wolfe Haight of Kane, who recently marked what would have been the 65th anniversary of her marriage to husband, Nathan Haight, who died May 17, 1989. The couple wed on Jan. 17, 1953.

She commemorated the recent anniversary with a poem:

“If He Were Here Today”

If he were here today,

We would celebrate

Sixty-five years of love.

If he were here today,

We would give thanks

To the good Lord above.

If he were here today,

He would really enjoy,

Grandchildren, girls and boys,

If he were here today,

We would be with family

And love them all with joy.

If he were here today.

Frances just sent us two other collections of her writings she put together, a poetry book called “Dogs, Cats and Other Critters” and book of stories called “Sunshine Days, Thank You Nights.”

We love the little poem on the cover of “Sunshine Days”:

Life is what you make of it

Sunshine is what you don’t always get

Clouds are of your own making sometimes

But look for sunshine — it is always there.

BIRDS: Is everyone ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count?

The count begins Friday and will take place through Monday.

Visit birdcount.org to join the hundreds of thousands of birdwatchers from across the globe who will take part.

ROBIN: Speaking of birds, Royden Trask of Eldred called with this message: “I just saw my first robin of the year.”